Who Suffers from Bulimia?

This eating disorder generally begins in the crucial teen and young adult identity-forming years when societal pressures to be “thin and perfect” are at their greatest. The vast majority clients in our facility’s eating disorders treatment program are adolescent girls and young adult women. But like anorexia, bulimia nervosa can also develop in older females and males of all ages. Fairwinds Treatment Center offers bulimia treatment for both female and male clients.

Because bulimia often occurs together with a chemical dependency and/or psychiatric disorder such as depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Fairwinds Treatment Center is one of only a few dually-licensed psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facilities in the nation to earn accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Who Suffers from Anorexia Nervosa?

While the vast majority of clients in our facility’s eating disorders treatment programs are adolescent girls and young adult women, anorexia can also develop in older females and males of all ages. This eating disorder generally begins in the crucial teen and young adult identity-forming years when societal pressures to be “thin and perfect” are at their greatest. Fairwinds Treatment Center offers anorexia treatment for both female and male clients.

Because anorexia often occurs together with a chemical dependency and/or psychiatric disorder, Fairwinds Treatment Center is one of only a few dually-licensed psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facilities in the nation to earn accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

Eating Disorders: Adolescents

Family treatment services at Fairwinds are critical in assisting the teenager in the recovery process. Our goal is to help improve communications between the adolescent and family members, as well as identify family dynamics and intervene for positive outcomes. In addition, a parent education/support group meets once weekly on the weekends, and family visitation is highly encouraged for support of the loved one.

Fairwinds utilizes art therapy as a therapeutic tool to assist the adolescent with non-verbal expressions of feelings, thoughts and emotions. From watercolors to wall painting and mask making, the adolescent is engaged in a variety of art mediums to assist him or her in exploring the treatment and healing process. Expressive therapies include a variety of mediums, including exercise, stretching, trust activities, recreational/leisure skill activities and outings and body image work. Through a variety of enjoyable activities, the adolescent is actively working through the treatment program in a non-threatening manner.

At Fairwinds, we are sensitive to the educational needs of our adolescent clients. Together with the Pinellas County school system, we offer Homebound Educational Services to ensure that students maintain their current academic schedules while in treatment. Through this program, each student receives an individualized educational plan that works in tandem with his or her personal treatment plan Every effort will be made to have the adolescent continue in school and receive credits so that he or she will not have to repeat a semester of school or fall behind.